16th Annual Michigan Hockey Banquet of Champions

Another big night in Livonia celebrates amateur hockey across the state

Michigan Hockey held its 16th Annual Banquet of Champions at the Laurel Manor on Monday, April 14, 2008.

The Banquet of Champions is a big night for amateur hockey in Michigan, as Michigan Hockey honors the State Champions and our MH individual award winners.

This year’s Banquet of Champions featured 25 MAHA state championship teams, including boys teams in the squirt, pee wee, bantam and midget age groups at the BB, B, A, AA and AAA levels, along with six girls teams from the 12-under, 14-under,16-under and 19-under levels.

"All of us at Michigan Hockey are proud to honor all of the MAHA state champions,” said Philip Colvin, Michigan Hockey Editor in Chief. The Banquet of Champions gives the players, coaches and their families the recognition they deserve as the best in the state.”

After the social hour, guests were treated to a program of dinner, action-packed team videos, award presentations and a Super Drawing of great hockey prizes that included apparel, gift certificates, and equipment, including new Reebok sticks and skates.

Emmy-winning FOX Sports Net Detroit reporter Shireen Saski (above) served as the Master of Ceremonies and helped honor Michigan’s most successful youth hockey teams.

More than 1000 Michigan State Championship players, coaches, family members and amateur hockey supporters were on hand at the 2008 Michigan Hockey Banquet of Champions. The Honeybaked girls 16 and Under team (above) gets ready for dinner and to watch their championship video.

During the social hour guests had a chance to catch up with teammates and friends and view some of RbK and CCM Hockey’s newest products at the equipment manufacturer’s display. Sales representatives Andy Rymsha (left) and Jill Gaudet brought skates, sticks, pads and helmets and were on hand to talk about the new products with players



The 2008 Michigan Hockey Award winners (from left) Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Peter Baumhart of Cranbrook Kingswood (with Contemporary Industries Josh Pawlowich); Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Shivani Saith of Portage Central (with Rbk/CCM Hockey’s Andy Rymsha; Coach of the Year Tyler Stoner of the Squirt B Iron Mountain Iron Kings (with FSN Detroit’s Shireen Saski) and Hockey Person of the Year Joe Emery of the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League (with Kevin Staskowslki of Perani’s Hockey World).

Coaches from 25 MAHA state champion teams were on hand at the Banquet of Champions to accept their team’s championship plaque made by Contemporary Industries. In the Girl’s 12 & Under and 14 and Under Divisions, Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League commissioner Joe Emery (left in all three photos) presented plaques to (from left) St. Clair Shores Saintes 12 & Under Non-National coach Brian Tyll, Michigan Ice Breakers 14 & Under Non-National assistant coach Ken Berkstresser and Little Caesars 14 & Under Tier I coach John Hindle.

In the Girl’s 16 & Under and 19 and Under Divisions, MAHA VP Ray Kraemer (left) presented plaques to (from left) Matt Berger of 19U Tier I champion Little Caesars, Paul Moretz of 16U Tier 1 champion Honeybaked and Keith Gillis of the 19U Non-National champion Traverse City North Stars.

In the Squirt Division, MAHA VP Larry Johnson (far left) gave plaques to (from left) Andy Copp of Squirt AAA major champion Compuware; Squirt AAA minor champion Honeybaked coach Tony Esser; Joe Jones of the Squirt AA champion Suburban Stars and Squirt B champion Iron Mountain Iron Kings coach Tyler Stoner.

Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League’s Lisa Zarzycki (center) presented plaques to the Bantam division winners, (from left) Mike Brown, coach of Bantam AAA major champion Little Caesars, James Delong, coach of the Bantam A champion Midland North Stars; John Baker, coach of Bantam AAA minor champion Little Caesars, and Drake Turcotte, coach of Bantam AA champion Rochester Rattlers.

Buffalo Wild Wings Cheryl Macedo (center) congratulated the Midget division winners, including (from left) Chris Coury of the Midget AAA major champion Belle Tire; Jim St. James, coach of the Midget BB Bluewater Wildcats; Tom Kmiec, coach of the Midget B champion Troy Ducks; Craig Furstenau, coach of the Midget AAA minor champion Little Caesars; Colin Partridge, captain of Midget A champion Belle Tire and Chris Scheuer, coach of the Midget AA champion USA Eagles.

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